grugan



, (No Model.) j 2 sheets-sheet 2. I'. C. GRUGAN.

Vjz gatented March 22,1881.

N4 PETERS. DYQ-l IYMDGRAFHER, WASHINGTON, D C.

l Heliotope.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT @Erica FRANK o. GEUGAN, or THE UNITED STATES ARMY, ASSIGNOE To THE CHIEF SIGNAL oEEIoEE 0E THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

H ELlfoTRoP-E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,095, dated March 22, 1881.

Application filed January 24,' 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I.

Be it known that I, F. C. GRUGAN, tirst lieutenant ot' Second Artillery, United States Army, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heliotropes and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in signaling-heliotropes; and it consists in the peculiar combination and construction ot'parts whereby a' strong, simple, light, and efficient signaling-instrument is produced, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the standard A and its attachments, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a topplan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation ot' one of the mirrors. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are enlarged views of the sight. Fig. 7 shows myinvention as operated. Fig. 8 is a View of the screen and its operatin g mechanism. Fig. 9 is a top-plan View of the same. Fig. l0 is a cross-section of the same. Figs. l1 and 1,2 are detail views.

A represents an ordinary tripod surmounted by a metallic cap, a.. Pivoted in a stud, b, projecting` from the lower side of the cap c, and depending therefrom, is the lever o, the upper end of which is formed into acam, and serves to operate a bolt, `d, which plays in the upper end of the stud b. The cap a is provided with a transverse j -shapedslot7 e, which extends to the center of the cap, made to receive the flanged button or stud which projects from the lower side ofthe supporting-arm. Secured in the outer end of the slot c is a flat metallic spring, f, which curves up to the center ofthe cap a and presses against the lower side of the flanges g, which extend over into the slot.

B represents a supporting arm, which is strengthened by means of the brace h, traversin gits center from end to end, and is provided at each end with suitable studs, i i, and tangentscrews 7c k. About three-quarters ot' an inch from` each end of the supporting-arm is a hole, l,

made to receive the sighting-rod. Projecting from the lower side of the arm B, at the center, is atlan ged button, m, whichits into the groove made in the upper side ofthe cap o. By means of this button the. supporting-arm can be pivoted upon the tripod A and Secured in any, desired position by Ineans ot' the cam, bolt, and spring'described in the preceding paragraph, as shown in Fig. l.

C represents a mirror, of which there are two, supported in the frame n and provided with the tangent-screw o, by means of which the mirror can be Secured atO any desired angle. The center of the 'frame is provided with an openin g, p, by means of which it can be secured upon either ot the studs c', thereby pivoting the mirror to the supporting-arm, as shown. By means ot' the tangentscrews lc 7c the mirror may he revolved to any desired angle to the arm. The mirrors are provided with small circular central openings, w, used in sighting the instrument.

Secured to the opposite end of the supportin garm from that which carries the mirror is the sighting-rod D, which extends through an annular spring-clamp, of which there are two, secured near both ends ot' the arm. The upper end ofthe sighting-rod is flattened so as to form a disk, fr, and to this attened portion is secured a tlat metallic sprin g, s, the disk of which has a circular hole, t, as shown in Fig. 4.

Secured between the spring s and the roddisk r is a piece ot' white paper or card-board, o, which -is tightly held in position by means of the spring, that portion ot' the paper uncovered bythe circular opening t being thus rendered visible from the front side of the sighting-rod. Upon this piece of paper is thrown the dark spot caused by the opening zo inthe mirror. As the efficiency of the instrument depends in a great measure upon the accuracy-of the sight, this being determined by keeping the dark Spot projected from the center of the mirror upon the center of the disk, it is necessary that the disk should presenta perfectly white surface, so as to cause the greatest possible clontrast between it and the darkspot thrown upon it. This I accomplish by making the disk of white paper, and as soon as it has become tar- I nishcd it can be taken out and replaced by a clean piece at any time bymeans ot' the clamping-spring s, as described.

I am aware that the use of paper as a disk upon which to project the dark spot is old in signaling-instruments,of this kind, and this I disclaim; but the manner here provided of removing and replacing it when it becomes soiled is new and original with me. In packing the instrument the sighting-rod is secured against the longitudinal brace n by means of the spring x, fastened thereto, the other end of the rod resting against one ofthe square raised ends of the arm, as shown in Figs; 1 and 2.

E is a second tripod, the legs of which are secured to the casting o, consisting otl the radial arms z and the central core, z. Depending from the lower side of this casting is a camlever and bolt precisely similar to those `secured-to the cap a of the standard A. At the outer end of the arms z are projections z2, which extend above the top surface of the casting y, and are beveled on their inner sides at about an angle of forty-five degrees, as shown in Fig. S. These beveled projections serve to secure the base of the operatingscreen.

F represents the operating-screen. 1 is a circular base, beveled to the same angle as the projections z2, and made to tit upon the top of the casting` f1 ,being secured theretoby means of its beveled edge and the projections z2. In

order to insert it into the circle indicated by the radial arms z, portions of its edge are removed in three places, as shown in Fig. 10. When the base has been secured within the angular flan ge of the projections z2 it is rigidly held in position by means of the cam-and bolt previously described. The upper end of the bolt is bored out, so as to form a socket for the projecting head ot' the screw 2, which sev cures the operating-rod 3 to the base. Projecting from the upper side of the base 1 is the vhollow shaft 4, in which is secured the operating-rod 3. One-fourth of the upper edge of the shaft 4 is cut away, and from the rod 3, extending into the cut-away portion of the shaft, is the projection 5. By mea-ns of this arrangement the rod 3 is prevented from moving through more than a quarter of a circle. Above the upper edge ot' the shaft 4 the rod is enlarged to the diameter of the shaft. This enlargement extends to within about an inch of the top of the rod, and in it is cut a screwthread. Upon this screw-thread is fitted a wooden handle or key, 6, which is confined at the top by the pin 7. Encircling the shaft 4 and the lower end of the screw 8 is a coiled spring, 9, which extends from the top of the base 1 to the lower side of the key 6. rlhe operating-screwF is secured by one of its edges I, iin a slot cut in a hollow rod, 10, and clamped in place by means of a nut, 11. The lower end of the rod 10 lits on' the top of the rod 3,

and is caused to partake of its motion by means of the transverse slots 12, which override the ends ofthe pin 7, extending through the rod 3.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The tripod A is first set up, and to it is secured the supporting-arm B. Upon one of the studs i is secured a mirror, C, and the sighting-rod D is xed tothe opposite end ot the arm. The operator then looks through the central hole of themirror and brings the disk of the sighting-rod directly in line with the distant station to which the message is to be sent. Having secured the arm from further rotation by means `of the clamping devices provided for that purpose, the mirror is brought to such an angle and inclination that the reflection from it is thrown directly to the distant station, this being determined by bringing the dark spot caused by the hole in its center directly'in the center of the white disk of the sighting-rod. The second tripod, E, is then placed directly in line with the distant station, and the screen adjusted in such a position as to interceptt-he reiiection from the mirror, thus preventing its being seen at the distantvstation, as shown. lf, now, the key 6 be depressed, the screen will move through a quarter of a circle to a position parallel to the line of reflection, and the flash will be distinctly observed at the distant station. This position of the screen is represented in the drawings by dotted lines. When'the pressure is removed from the key the spring 9 causes the screen to move back to its initial position, and the reflection ot' the mirroris cut oft' from the distant station. When the sun is behind the operator, a second mirror is substituted for the sighting-rod, in the manner common to all sun-signaling instruments in use, and the screen is operated as before.

Having described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The cap a, having a slot, e, and springf, in combination with the cam-lever c and bolt d, by means of which the supporting-arm of the instrument may be pivoted and secured in position, substantially as described.

2. In a .heliotrope, the supporting-arm B, pivoted in its center, and provided with studs IOC ICE

and tangent-screws and apertures Z at either end, whereby a mirror may be carried at either end, (or a mirror and sighting-rod, as may be required,) in combination with the mirror C and sighting-rod D, substantially as shown.

3. The sighting-rod D, iiattened at one extremity and provided with the spring s, by means of which a paper or other suitable disk may be held securely in position or removed and replaced at will, in combination with the arm B and mirror C, substantially as -an-d for the purpose set forth.

4. The screen F, secured to the hollow rod 10, the lower end of the rod being made to iit over the upper end of the operating-rod, and engaging with it by means of the slot 12 and projection 7, or its equivalent, whereby the screen may be caused to partake of the motion of the said operating-rod, or readily removed therefrom, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the basel l, hollow shaft 4, operating-rod 3, engaging with said shaft by means of the projection 5, and screw 8, passing through the operating-key, and being partially rotated thereby, whereby the screen maybe caused. to move back and forth, substantially as shown.

6. The base 1,-l1oll0w shaft 4, operating-rod 3, engaging with said shaft by means of thev projection 5, and screw 8, passing through the operating-key, and being partially rotated thereby, in combination with the spring 9, s ub- I5 stantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aftixed my signature in presence ot' two witnesses. y

FRANK CARTER GRUGAN,

1st Lieut. 2d Artillery.' W i tn esses GHAs. E. KILBOURNE, ROBERT CRAIG. 

